Pipe aligning tools



March 1956 P. B. MITCHELL PIPE ALIGNING TOOLS Filed March so. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Praise 5. M/ Zchefl IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYJ March 1956 P. B. MITCHELL PIPE ALIGNING TOOLS Filed March 30, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Frame 5. M/fc'hefl INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYJ March 6, 1956 p MITCHELL 2,737,141

PIPE ALIGNING TOOLS Filed March so, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet s Presse 5'. M/ zc/lefl INVENTOR.

a am ATTORNEYS PHE ALHGNING TOOLS Presse B. Mitchell, Houston, Tex.

Application March 30, 1951, Serial No. 218,446

4 Claims. (Cl. 113-103) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pipe aligning tools.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved pipe aligning tool which is an improvement on the pipe aligning tools disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,522,459, dated September 12, 1950, and my co-pending application, Serial No. 167,473, filed June 10, 1950.

In the aligning tools illustrated in the aforesaid prior patent and co-pcnding application, radially movable aligning shoes are shown and described; such shoes are spaced about the tool and are simultaneously movable to expand it in retracted positions with the result that the longitudinal edges of said shoes are spaced from each other when the shoes are fully expanded. In other words, in the tools shown in my prior patent and the co-pending application, said shoes do not provide a full 360 contact with the inner wall of the pipe sections which are aligned by said tool. It has been found that in certain instances it is desirable that the aligning tool engage the inner wall of the aligned pipe section throughout the full 360 thereof.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improved aligning shoe wherein full 360 contact with the inner wall of the pipe sections aligned by said tool is had. a

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved aligning tool wherein the movement of certain of the expanding shoes is diiferent from the movement of other expanding shoes, which permits said shoes to coact with each other when in a full expanded position to form a complete annular surface for contacting the inner wall of the pipe sections. 7

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved tool, of the character described, wherein .coacting pins and slots control the expansion and retraction of the shoes; the construction of the slots being such that the rate of movement of each shoe may be controlled through the operating cycle to thereby make it possible for certain of said shoes to move to fully expanded position, after which the remaining shoes may complete their movement to provide a continuous annular aligning surface.

A further object is to provide a tool of the character described, which is operable either manually, electrically or hydraulically, as conditions dictate.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features thereof. I

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure l is an elevation of the ends of two pipe sections which are to be connected together and illustrating the improved aligning tool, constructed in accordance with the invention, disposed within said pipe sections,

nite States Patent Figure 2 is an isometric view of the pipe aligning tool having one of the expanding shoes removed to more clearly illustrate the construction,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the aligning tool with the aligning shoes in a retracted position,

Figure 5 is a similar view with certain of the shoes in a fully expanded position and the remainder of said shoes in a partially expanded position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 5 with the aligning shoes in a fully expandedposition,

Figure 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 4,

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 4,

, Figure 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 5,

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 1t910 of Figure 6, and

Figure 11 is a sectional view of a modified form of aligning shoe.

In the drawings, the numeral 19 designates a section of tubular pipe which is to be welded or connected to a secand section 11 of similar pipe. The ends of the pipe sections 10 and 11 are ordinarily beveled and abut each other to provide a joint 12 which is subsequently welded to join the pipe sections to each other. The pipe aligning tool A is adapted to be inserted within the bore of the pipe sections and as will be explained, functions to accurately align the pipe sections whereby an efficient connection can be made between said sections. After the joint 12 is welded the tool A is moved outwardly through the bore of the pipe section 11 and is utilized to align the next joint (not shown) which would be between the pipe section 11 and another pipe section which is not illustrated. It will thus be apparent that the aligning tool A is pulled through the bore of the pipe sections as the various sections are connected to each other.

The aligning tool A (Figures 2 and 4) comprises a main supporting assembly which includes a tubular body or sleeve 13 having bearings 14 and 15 mounted within the ends of the bore 13a of said sleeve. An operating shaft 16 has one end extending through the bearings and sleeve and is provided Withan annular retaining flange 17 which abuts the bearing 15. A suitable washer and nut 18 threads onto the extending end of the shaft adjacent the bearing 14 and with this arrangement the shaft 16 is rotatable Within and with respect to the tubular body or sleeve 13.

A plurality of longitudinal guide elements G are preferably made integral with the tubular sleeve or supporting element 13 and extend radially from the periphery of said sleeve. As is clearly shown in Figures 8 to 10, four guide elements G have been shown spaced equi-distant around the sleeve 13 and each guide element comprises a pair of longitudinally extending spacd bars or members 19. The spaced bars 19 of each guide element are shown as of substantially the same length as the tubular body or sleeve, and as will be explained, the space 1% between the bars is adapted to receive and coact with elongate aligning shoes.

Two of the guide elements which are disposed diametrically opposite each other and which are identified as G1 and G2 in Figures 8 to 10 are adapted to coact with aligning shoes B1 and B2. The other guide elements indicated as G3 and G4, which are diametrically opposed to each other, are arranged to coact with other aligning shoes Cl andC2.

The aligning shoe B1 which 'coacts with the guide element G1 includes an arcuate shoe portion 23 having a central depending longitudinal rib '24 and this rib 24 is engageable within the space 19a between the bars 19 of said guide element (Figures 8 to 10). The longitudinal rib 24 of the aligning shoe Bit is formed with a pair of slots 2%) which extend transversely therethrough and each slot has an inclined portion 21 and a substantially straight portion 22, as is clearly shown in Figures 4 to 6; a connection between the shoe and guide element G1 is made by means of transverse bearing pins 25 which extend through the slots. Each pin has its ends secured Within the spaced bars 19 of the guide element and projects entirely through one of the slots 20.

With this arrangement it will be apparent that when the pins 25 are in the position shown in Figure 4, said pins are at the inner ends of the inclined portions 21 of the slots 20 and in such position the shoe B1 is retracted. When the guide element G1 is moved longitudinally with respect to the shoe B1 in a direction to the left in Figure 4, the pins 25" of said guide element are caused to travel outwardly of the inclined portions 21 of the slots 2% and to thereafter enter and move longitudinally of the straight sections 22 of said slots. The angle of inclination of the portions 21 of the slots 20 is such that when each pin 25 reaches the straight or longitudinal portion 22 of each slot, the shoe B1 is fully expanded into contact with the bore of the pipe sections it and 11. Thus, as the pins 25 move through the longitudinal portions 22 of the slots Ztl, there is no further radial expansion of the shoe.

The aligning shoe B2 is constructed in an identical manner to the shoe B1 and includes the slots 2% The guide element G2 is constructed in an identical manner to the element G1 and is provided with the pins 25 coacting with the slots 2% of the aligning shoe B2. Thus, upon the simultaneous longitudinal movement of the guide elements G1 and G2, the shoes B1 and B2 are expanded outwardly as the pins of their respective guide elements move through the inclined portions 21 of the slots 20 and thereafter said shoes undergo no further radial movement since said pins move through the straight portions 22 of said slots. The movement of the shoes B1 and B2 is thus identical.

The shoe Cl which coacts with the guide element G3 has its central rib 24 formed with a pair of the slots 30 and each slot 30 is inclined throughout its entire length. The angle of inclination of each slot 30 may be the same as the angle of inclination of the inclined portions 21 of the slots 20 in the shoes B1 and B2; however, the relationship between these angles of inclination is variable depending upon the rate of radial movement desired for each pair of shoes. The shoe C1 has its central rib 24 engaged between the bars of the guide element G3 and said guide element is provided with transverse pins 31 which engage within the inclined slots 3d of said rib. When the pins 31 are at the inner end of the inclined slots 30, as shown in Figure 4, the shoe Cl is in a fully retracted position (Figure 8); movement of the shoe C1 longitudinally of the guide element G3 causes the pins 31 to travel the length of the inclined slots to the position shown in Figure 6, in which position the shoe C1 is fully expanded. Because the slots 3% are inclined throughout their length, it is obvious that as the pins 31 traverse said slots the shoe C1 moves from a fully retracted to a fully expanded position.

The aligning shoe C2 is constructed in an identical manner to the shoe C1 and has the inclined slots 30 in its central rib. The guide element G4 is constructed in an identical manner to the element G3 and has the coacting pins 31 engaging within the slots of the shoe C2. Thus, upon longitudinal movement of the element G4 with respect to the shoe C2, the shoe is moved from fully retracted to fully expanded position. Since the construction and mounting of the shoes Cl and C2 is identical it will be obvious that these shoes are operated simultaneously upon the simultaneous longitudinal movement of said shoes. Each of the shoes Cl and C2 travels the same radial distance upon each operation, and it is noted that the travel of these shoes is greater than the radial travel of the shoes B1 and B2. The difference in the amount of radial travel of the pair of shoes Cl and C2 as compared to the radial travel of the shoes Bi and B2 is determined by the length of the longitudinal portions 22 of the slots 20. By varying these portions it is evident that any desired movement of the shoes B1 and B2 may be obtained.

For imparting longitudinal movement to the support and guide element assembly with respect to the aligning shoes, each aligning shoe is formed with an inwardly extending slot 32 at one end thereof and an actuating disc 33 has its peripheral edge portion engaged within all of the slots or recesses 32 of the shoes. The actuating disc 33 is attached or made integral with a tubular sleeve 34, which sleeve surrounds the operating rod or shaft 16. The sleeve has connection with the operating rod through internal threads 35 provided in the bore of the sleeve and external threads 36 formed on the rod or shaft. Beyond the threads the sleeve is reduced as indicated at 34a to closely engage the surface of the operating rod 16 and extends for a suflicient distance to project outwardly from the pipe section from which the device is disposed (Figure 1). The outer reduced portion of the sleeve functions as a handle which may be grasped by the operator and the operating rod or shaft 16 extends from the sleeve and is provided with a suitable crank 37 which facilitates manual rotation of the rod or shaft. It is noted that if desired the sleeve and shaft may be connected to electrical or hydraulic operating means so that these parts may be rotated with respect to each other.

To assist in supporting the tool and to facilitate its movement within the pipe sections, bowed spring members 38 may have one end secured to the actuating disc 33 with their opposite end secured to a floating collar 39 which surrounds the sleeve 34. Supporting rollers 40 (Figure 2) are mounted in the elements 38 and are adapted to ride upon the inner wall of the pipe sections within which the device is used.

It will be apparent that when the sleeve 34 is held stationary and the rod or shaft 16 is rotated the coaction between the threads 35 and 36 will result in a movement or travel of the rod 16 with respect to the tubular sleeve. Since the tubular sleeve has connection through the slots 32 with the aligning shoes B1, B2, C1 and C2, the aligning shoes are maintained stationary while the supporting assembly comprising the sleeve 13 and guide elements G are moved longitudinally of said shoes. As

the guide elements are moved longitudinally with respect to the shoes, the coaction between the slots in said shoes and the pins secured to said guide elements will result in a radial expansion or contraction of the shoes.

In operation the shoes are in a retracted position as illustrated in Figures 4 and 8, and at this time the pins 25 of the elements G1 and G2 are at the ends of the inclined portions 21 of the slots 20 in the shoes B1 and B2. Also at this time the pins 31 of the guide elements G3 and G4 are at the inner ends of the inclined slots 30 in the shoes C1 and C2. It is noted that the aligning shoes C1 and C2 are retracted a further distance inwardly of the bore of the pipe sections within which the tool is to operate, which means that the radial travel or expansion of the shoes C1 and C2 must be greater gian the radial expansion or travel of the shoes B1 and With the shoes in a retracted position as shown in Figures 4 and 8, the device is introduced into the pipe sections 10 and 11 and is located opposite the joint 12 thereof. The tubular sleeve 34 is then maintained stationary while the operating shaft or rod is rotated to cause the supporting and guide assembly to travel in a direction to the right in Figures 4 and 5. This longitudinal movement of the guide elements G1 and G2 with respect to the aligning shoes B1 and B2 causes the pins 25 of said elements to move outwardly of the inclined portion 21 of the slots 20 .in the shoes B1 and B2. The inclination and length of the inclined sections 21 of the slots 20 is such that when the pins 25 reach the position shown in Figure the aligning shoes B1 and B2 have been expanded into engagement with the bore of the pipe as shown in Figure 9.

During the time that the shoes B1 and B2 are being expanded into contact with the wall of the pipe the pins 31 of the elements G3 and G4 have moved approximately half the length of the slots 30 in shoes C1 and C2, and such position of the shoes is illustrated in Figures 5 and 9. After the shoes B1 and B2 have engaged the bore of the pipe no further expansion thereof is necessary and at this point the pins 25 of the elements Gland G2 move into the longitudinal or straight portions 22 of the slots 20, so that further longitudinal movement of the guide assembly with respect to said shoes will not cause any further radial travel or expansion of said shoes. over, the continued longitudinal movement of the supporting and guide assembly with respect to the shoes C1 and C2 results in the continued expansion or radial travel of these shoes until said shoes reach their final expanded position, as illustrated in Figures 6 to 10. The straight portions 22 of the slots in shoes B1 and E2 permit the continued radial expansion of the shoes C1 and C2 without any further radial'expansion of the shoes B1 and B2. The longitudinal edges 41 of each of the shoes is beveled or inclined to interfit with the adjacent shoes, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 10, and thus, when all of the shoes are fully expanded, said shoes coact with each other to provide a substantially continuous annular support surface which engages the wall of the pipe.

By arranging the shoes in pairs with one pair traveling a greater distance than the other pair upon the same relative longitudinal movement between the guide elements and the shoes, it is possible to provide for a full 360 contact between the shoes and the pipe. Thus, it is not necessary to have longitudinal gaps between the shoes when in their fully expanded position and the entire joint 12 is properly backed through 360.

To retract the aligning shoes, the operation is reversed with the shaft or rod 16 being rotated in a reverse direction. This causes the supporting and guide shoe assembly to be moved longitudinally in a direction to the left in Figure 6 with respect to the shoes. Upon initial longitudinal movement in this direction, the pins of the elements G1 and G2 traverse the longitudinal or straight portion 22 of the slots 20 in shoes B1 and B2, so that upon such initial movement there is no retraction of the shoes B1 and B2. However, because the slots which control the radial movement of the shoes C1 and C2 are inclined throughout their length, the initial longitudinal movement of the guide elements with respect to the shoes causes the shoes C1 and C2 to begin to retract immediately. Retraction of the shoes C1 and C2 is gradual throughout the entire movement of the guide element assembly with respect to the shoes. As soon as the pins 25 of the elements G1 and G2 enter the inclined portions 21 of the slots 20 of the shoes B1 and B2, these shoes are then retracted. With this arrangement the shoes C1 and C2 are retracted inwardly to a position which will permit subsequent retraction of the shoes B1 and B2 so that an overlapping of the shoes in their retracted position, as shown in Figure 8, is carried out. By providing this overlap and then controlling the travel of the shoes in the manner above described, it is possible to employ shoes which, when in their fully expanded position, will provide 360 contact with the wall of the pipe.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 10, the outer surface of each arcuate shoe is substantially fiat. It might be desirable in certain instances to provide a toothed surface on each shoe and in Figure 11, one of the shoes is illustrated as having a recess 42 at its transverse center;

How-

on opposite sides of the recess are relatively shallow teeth 43 and 44, with the teeth 43 being directed opposite to the direction of the teeth 44. With this type of shoe the teeth 43 and 44 will tend to grip theinternal surface of the pipe to assure more perfect alignment at the joint 12. if desired, the shoes B1, B2, C1 and C2 may be formed with transverse central recesses, such as the recess 42 or may be provided with an insert of fire clay or ceramic material, indicated at 17 in Figure 4, which backs up the joint.

It is pointed out that the slots 20 and 30 are illustrated as formed within the central ribs of the aligning shoes, with the co-acting transverse pins having their ends secured in the spaced bars of the guide elements G. How ever, it is evident that these parts may be reversed with the slots being formed in the guide elements and the pins being mounted within the shoes, in which event the function of the device would be identical.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, Within the scope of the appended claims, Without-depart ing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, 1 claim:

1. A pipe aligning tool adapted to be inserted into the bore of a pipe and including, a support having four rigid guides extending longitudinally and radialiy with respect to its axis, said guides being spaced substantially ninety degrees from each other about said support, an aligning shoe associated with each of said guides so that a first pair of the shoes are disposed diametrically opposite from each other and a second pair of the shoes are also disposed diametrically opposite from each other, said second pair being aligned substantially ninety degrees from said first pair, each shoe including an arcuate portion and a web, the arcuate portions of the shoes collectively forming a circular surface, means connecting each web of each shoe with its associated guide comprising a transverse pin carried by each guide and a slot formed in each web through which said pin extends whereby relative longitudinal movement of each shoe and guide causes each pin to travel in its associated slot to move each shoe from an unexpanded position to an expanded position, said first pair of shoes being positioned radially inwardly of said second pair of shoes when said shoes are all in the unexpanded position, the configuration of the slots in the webs of said first pair of shoes being inclined at an. angle to the axis of the support and the configuration of the slots in the webs of said second pair of shoes being inclined at said angle but having a longitudinal portion thereof substantially parallel to the axis of the support whereby upon the same longitudinal movement of the guides relative to their associated shoes the shoes are moved to the expanded position with the 0nd pair of shoes moving into contact with the inside wall of said pipe at the time the pins associated therewith begin their travel in said longitudinal portion so that further radial movement of said second pair of shoes is stopped even though relative longitudinal movement of said support and guides relative to all of said shoes continues, such continued longitudinal movement of said support continuing to move said first pair of shoes radially whereby they contact the inside wall of said pipe subsequent to said first pair, said first pair of shoes thereby moving a greater radial distance than said second pair to circumferentially align all of said shoes to form said circular surface, means to hold the aligned shoes against longitudinal movement relative to each other, and means to simultaneously longitudinally move all of said guides the same longitudinal distance relative to said shoes and the above holding means to eifect the radial movement thereof to the expanded position.

2. The pipe aligning tool set forth in claim 1, wherein the means to move the guides longitudinally relative to the shoes includes an internally threaded tubular handle, means connecting said handle to the Webs of the shoes to prevent longitudinal movement of the shoes relative to each other while permitting radial movement of the webs and shoes relative to the handle, and an expanding rod rotatably connected to said support and having external threads thereon in threaded engagement with the threads on said tubular handle whereby rotation of said expanding rod with respect to said tubular handle produces a longitudinal movement of said support and guides relative to said shoes.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein the means connecting said handle to the webs of the shoes includes a disc attached to said handle and extending radially therefrom, each Web having a radial slot therein receiving the disc so that said webs and shoes are prevented from moving longitudinally but are permitted to move radially relative to said tubular handle.

4. A pipe aligning tool adapted to be inserted into the bore of a pipe and including, a support having a pinrality of rigid guides extending longitudinally and radially with respect to its axis, an aligning shoe having an arcuate portion and a Web, each web being disposed parallel and adjacent each guide, means for moving the shoes radially from an unexpanded position to an expanded position including means connecting the web of each shoe with its associated guide comprising a transverse pin carried by one member and a slot formed in the other member through which said pin extends, whereby relative longitudinal movement of the shoe and guide causes the pin to travel within the slot, said shoes being arranged in diametrically opposed pairs with a first pair of the shoes disposed radially inwardly of a second pair of the shoes when in the unexpanded position, the configuration of the slots in the first pair being inclined at an angle to the axis of the support, and the configuration of the slots in the second pair being inclined at said angle but having a portion thereof substantially parallel to the axis of the support, whereby upon the same longitudinal movement of the guides relative to their associated shoes, the first pair of shoes is moved into contact with the inside Wall of the pipe and the second pair is subsequently moved into contact With the inside wall or the pipe, said shoes collectively forming a circular surface when in an expanded position, means to hold the shoes against longitudinal movement relative to each other, and means to move all of the guides the same longitudinal distance relative to said shoes and the above holding means simultaneously to efiect the expansion of the shoes into the complete circular surface.

Reierences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,322,944 Pierce Nov. 25, 1919 1,719,720 Olsen July 2, 1929 1,770,649 Kirkman July 15, 1930 1,889,986 Haywood Dec. 6, 1932 1,954,599 Rippen Apr. 10, 1934 1,980,419 Martin Nov. 13, 1934 2,167,896 Graham Aug. 1, 1939 2,339,543 Bishop Jan. 18, 1944 2,352,042 Vanderlinde June 20, 1944 2,522,459 Mitchell Sept. 12, 1950 2,558,360 Jadoul June 26, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,738 Great Britain 1914 

